DETROIT -- Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi was something to behold in Sunday afternoon’s 6-1 win over the Tigers. The big right-hander was dealing for seven innings, frustrating a team packed with talented hitters by limiting them to two hits (one double and one single) and one walk.
Texas second baseman Marcus Semien hit a two-run homer in the second off Reese Olson, who had gone 38 2/3 innings since allowing one to Dodgers slugger Freddie Freeman in the first inning of a March 29 game.
Third baseman Josh Jung -- whose parents were presented split Tigers-Rangers jerseys by him and brother Jace Jung, Detroit’s starting third baseman, prior to the game – smoked a two-run homer off reliever Beau Brieske in the fifth. Catcher Jonah Heim added a towering solo homer to close out the scoring in the eighth.
The Rangers hit eight homers in taking the last two games of the weekend, and handed the Tigers their first series loss at home in six tries. It also enabled Texas to finish its road trip 3-3.
“I thought this was a big game for us,” said Rangers manager Bruce Bochy. “ ... To head home, it’s great for the psyche.”
There was a positive vibe in the Texas clubhouse all weekend -- even before winning two straight from a team that had the best record in MLB before dropping these games.
“The last two days were great,” said Jung. “I had a big swing. We had a couple big swings -- some knockout blows there. The last two days, we’re swinging it well. Hopefully, we can keep that going. I think we’re starting to feel that in the locker room. It’s just about to come alive.
“We’re just trying to change the narrative within ourselves and within the locker room … I think bringing Booney [hitting coach Bret Boone] in has helped a lot with that, too. It changed our perspective a little bit. If you’re negative, it’s a game of failure. He’s done a really good job of helping us move on, and see things in a different perspective.”
Boone, hired Monday, was walking through the clubhouse Saturday afternoon, when he said to no one in particular: “Let’s go out and start a winning streak!”
And they have done just that.
Asked about the confidence his team displayed all weekend despite having gone 3-10 in games prior to Saturday, Bochy smiled and said, “You know what, that’s what I feel good about. Despite our struggles, they come in here every day just believing it’s going to happen. Nobody’s hanging their head. They’ve done a good job of supporting each other.”
The Rangers (20-21) didn’t stop hitting for power with shortstop Corey Seager (two homers and a double Saturday night) sitting out with his sore right hamstring. Seager will be evaluated Monday and could be placed on the injured list, according to Bochy.
However, before departing the clubhouse Saturday night, Seager smiled and said, “You have to find the light in the dark sometimes -- and right now I feel the light’s starting to peek through. And we’re hoping it opens up more.”
The hitting catching up with the club’s fine pitching was all that was required to win more games.
Eovaldi (4-2, 1.78 ERA) struck out seven and allowed just one batter past first base. Riley Greene doubled leading off the second inning, moved to third on a ground-out and was stranded there.
“What a beautiful job he did today,” said Bochy. “I mean, you are watching an artist at work. He’s just painting the corners -- all four quadrants with four pitches. He’s fun to watch.”